AKHA: Udom, Umo Eno settle for Prince Akpabio as Speaker
Outgoing governor of the state, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and the Governor-Elect, Pastor Umo Eno have settled for Member-Elect for Essien Udim State Constituency, Prince Ukpong Akpabio as the next Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
TheMail understands that except there is a last minute change in political dynamics that would swing the pendulum away from Prince Akpabio, the former Commissioner for Trade and Investment is billed to emerge as the state’s number 3 man.
Several top sources in government have confirmed that at the moment, though a fresher in the house with no cognate legislative experience, Prince Akpabio is the one chosen by the system.
“It is Udom that specifically asked Prince contest for House of Assembly seat. Left for Prince alone, he would not have vied for the position because he wouldn’t have wanted getting into any feud with his friend Esse Umoh who was gunning for a second term. But Governor wasn’t comfortable with Esse and was the one pushing for him to run for the office.
“The governor specifically told him like over 2-3 years ago that he wants him to contest and that he will support him to emerge Speaker.
“You know Udom, he is not someone that minces words. He rarely fails in fulfilling promises he makes to people. I can tell you authoritatively that on the 80th birthday of the Deputy Governor, Moses Ekpo in Abak, the governor had a meeting with about 10 persons in attendance. Uncle Mo, Enoidem, Frank Archibong, Umo Eno, Aniekan Bassey, were some of those in that meeting. The issue of speakership came up and the governor still mentioned Prince as his preferred.
“Recently, after the elections, that understanding has been re-established and both the governor and the governor-elect are in sync on the issue of Prince becoming speaker. That is why at events, you will hear politically exposed persons who are aware of the development calling Prince ‘Mr Speaker’. It is almost a done deal”, said our source.
Those also angling for the plum legislative job include the governor’s wife’s younger brother, Samson Idiong who is the Member-elect for Oruk Anam State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong the member representing Abak State Constituency and Rt. Hon. Mfon Idung, Member Representing Etim Ekpo/Ika State Constituency.
The duo of Idung and Otong who are returning to the House in June as ranking members believe that the rules of the house should not be suspended or altered for the purpose of Prince being elected speaker. Though they are currently aware that Prince Akpabio is preferred candidate, they are not resting on their oars are still lobbying and hoping that the dynamics change within the next two weeks for the pendulum to swing to their favour.
According to our source, the duo are also hoping that with Senator Godswill Akpabio most likely emerging the President of the 10th senate, that the ‘system’ will reconsider its choice of Prince with the reasoning that it won’t be ideal to allow members of the same family to emerge Senate President and Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
Others who are against Prince’s ambition believe that when the chips are down, family will always be placed above political considerations, stating that it is politically too dangerous and dicey for the Umo Eno who is not politically grounded to allow such to happen. Prince’s opponents are also of the opinion that he is too ‘mercantile’ and would be too risky to allow him get the position.
“What if with this OBA’s case in the tribunal goes all the way to Supreme Court and it doesn’t favour Umo Eno? You know Umo Eno insulted Bola Tinubu in the heat of the exchange between Tinubu who was then APC presidential candidate and our governor. Umo Eno while addressing a campaign rally weighed into the matter and called Tinubu a cocaine sniffer/dealer. That video was sent to Tinubu. He has it. Tinubu could be unforgiving and ruthless by moving to take a sweet revenge on Udom/Umo Eno. Who would be the Acting Governor if Umo Eno/Akon are sacked? Prince Akpabio as speaker would take over.
“With Akpabio being the number 3 man at the federal and Prince his nephew as the number three man in the state, don’t you consider that too risky that he may cut deals with Akpabio/Tinubu? Most people expected Prince to lose at the general election after Akpabio’s performance in February 25 election. What we are hearing is that for familial reasons, Akpabio decided not to go full force against Prince which paved way for him to emerge House of Assembly member elect. These are conspiracy theories but we can’t rule out their possibilities”, said one of the anti-Prince Akpabio proponents.
But a close political ally of Prince who spoke to TheMail Newspaper last week discountenanced the conspiracy theories, saying that Prince is a loyal person who is always moved by his convictions and not pecuniary concerns.
“This same Prince that they are saying will align with his elder brother Godswill refused to sell out PDP in 2018/2019 when most people thought he will join APC with Godswill. Prince didn’t cut any deal with Godswill in 2023 even when he had his own election. He won fair and square. If Godswill had his way, Prince would have failed the election. Udom had promised Prince the speakership seat and no amount of blackmails or political undercurrents will make him to rescind his decision”, said a top government source.
Meanwhile, this paper learnt authoritatively that the First Lady, Dr Mrs Martha Emmanuel is pushing for his younger brother, Samson Idiong to emerge Speaker. Those in Samson’s camp believe that if Prince Akpabio with no cognate legislative experience is penciled as the speaker, he as a first timer is also eligible and won’t give up on lobbying for the seat.
“Though Martha is rooting for his brother, something any rational blood relative would do, the possibility of Samson’s bid flying is slim. The governor doesn’t even consider him as an option. Remember that Udom wasn’t even supporting him for the assembly election but Martha pushed for it and finally had her way. Left for Udom alone, Samson wouldn’t have gotten the PDP ticket. So, I don’t see his ambition flying. But nothing is impossible. 2 weeks is a lot of time in politics”, said another source who chose to remain anonymous.
In the meantime, the Member Representing Itu State Constituency, Kufre-Abasi Edidem is the prime favourite for the office of Deputy Speaker.
We learnt that since Prince, a first timer is to emerge speaker, the Deputy Speakership seat is left for a ranking member. All the members-elect from Uyo Senatorial District where the Deputy Speaker is to be chosen from are all newbies except KufreAbasi Edidem and Sen. Effiong Bob’s son, Otobong.
“You know, the governor-elect, Umo Eno is from Nsit Ubium, so his House of Assembly member cannot be Deputy Speaker at the same time. So, Kufre’s choice as Deputy Speaker was quite an easy pick. Prince already sees him as his deputy”, said our source.
– First Published on the print version of TheMail Newspaper on Tuesday, 23rd May, 2023